93% of UK businesses rethink packaging as PPWR, pEPR drive compliance – Advanced Supply Chain

UK – A survey of 200 British businesses has found that 93 percent are affected or expect to be affected by the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, with 39 percent actively making changes to packaging and 32 percent reviewing formats as the general application date takes effect.

The research, conducted by logistics company Advanced Supply Chain, revealed that just 7 percent of businesses reported the PPWR will have no impact on their packaging. 

The survey also showed that the packaging Extended Producer Responsibility scheme has increased repackaging requirements for 70 percent of businesses, with 47 percent seeing growing levels of packaging waste and 37 percent reporting increased packaging errors.

PPWR Compliance and Packaging Standardisation

The survey found that 16 percent of businesses have already formatted packaging to comply, 39 percent are currently making changes, and 32 percent are reviewing and assessing packaging formats. 

Stuart Greenfield, UK and European sales director at Advanced Supply Chain, stated that although the PPWR is an EU regulation, it is not unusual to see businesses applying PPWR principles to packaging used outside the EU, with many British businesses standardising packaging formats to support compliance, control costs and simplify retail logistics across multiple markets. 

The PPWR introduces requirements for recyclability, recycled content and packaging minimisation, with 12 August 2026 marking the general application of the new regulation for any business placing packaging on the EU market.

pEPR Impacts and Packaging Innovation

Flexible packaging manufacturer Duo reported that a growing number of British businesses are prioritising packaging strategies that increase levels of recycled content, rightsize packages and focus on lightweight materials. 

Co-owner and commercial director Anthony Brimelow stated that the PPWR and pEPR are driving this trend, but the challenge is ensuring sustainability gains don’t come at the expense of packaging integrity, with the expectation that this will drive innovation in advanced materials that deliver strength and efficiency. 

Greenfield concluded that the pEPR is increasing the pressure on businesses to find the right packaging balance across product protection, customer experience, cost control and sustainability, with many businesses already revisiting their own supplier standards and compliance measures to reduce repackaging requirements as products move from source of supply through to point of sale.

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